'Why not?' - Pep Guardiola's next job named by Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez after Man City departure
Xavi Hernandez has named Pep Guardiola's next managerial move after he called time on his trophy-laden stint at Manchester City.
Guardiola signed off at the Etihad Stadium last weekend with a special send-off, having officially announced his exit on Friday following speculation.
The Catalan lifted a total of 20 trophies in his decade as City boss and finished off by winning a Carabao Cup and FA Cup double in his final season.
However he feels the time is right to leave his role a year prior to his contract expiring, with Enzo Maresca waiting in the wings to replace his former mentor.
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Guardiola, who is taking on a global ambassador role for the City Football Group, has said he will take a break to spend time with his family, something he did when he left Barcelona in 2012.
READ MORE: Enzo Maresca returns to Chelsea to poach key player for Man City
But he is already being linked with a return to the game and his former captain Xavi believes the natural move for Guardiola is to finally manage a national team after conquering club football.
“If he’s not the best, he’s one of the best," Xavi said when asked about Guardiola at an Q&A hosted by Heineken ahead of the Champions League final.
"He’s obsessed tactically and I learned a lot from him and his staff.
“He’s an amazing coach, with how he talks to the players and convinces them what they have to do as a team. He’s a legend as a coach.”
Discussing his potential next job in coaching, he stated: “He’s a genius and you never know in the brain of a genius and what he will do but if I have to say something, maybe he’s waiting for a national team.
“In terms of clubs, he did everything so I think the new challenge for him will be a national team.”
Host Olivia Buzaglo asked the former Barcelona midfielder and manager if the national team role could be Spain of England after recent links, to which he replied: “Why not? Spain is so difficult but maybe England.”
Xavi is 'in love' with PSG midfielder ahead of Champions League final
Xavi was part of Guardiola's all-conquering Barcelona side and arguably the best midfield trio of all time alongside Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.
But he spoke glowingly about PSG's current trident of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz who featured in the Champions League final win under his former coach Luis Enrique.
Waxing lyrical about the threesome, Xavi added: "I am in love with Vitinha. Vitinha controls everything, the tempo, he's running a lot and he doesn't lose the ball. Also Joao Neves is working a lot for the team, he arrives to the goal and can score.
"And for me Fabian is a complete midfielder - technically and physically. It's one of the best trio of midfielders in the world for me."
Topics: Pep Guardiola, Manchester City
Josh Lawless